Then, as now, the Olympics figured prominently in public discussion. Of course, in 1988, when the pandas first came to town, the Games were a tangible thing rather than a subject of debate.

Then, as now, anticipation was high. It’s too early to tell if excitement will reach the heights of 1988 when Alpha Dairy created panda ice cream—it used vanilla and licorice ice cream to render the face of a panda—and the zoo released a little ditty called “Panda Magic.” (“Oh, catch that Panda Magic at the zoo in Calgary/It’s causing panda-monium, they’re such a rarity.”) The song is easily found on YouTube, but be forewarned, it’s an earwig that just won’t quit.

There are, however, some differences between the two visits. In 1988, there were fewer than 1,000 pandas in the wild. Today there are some 2,000 and the species was taken off the endangered list in 2016. It’s still officially listed as “vulnerable,” but its improving fortunes are attributed to Chinese efforts to combat poaching and preserve habitat, efforts that are supported by funds raised with these loans.

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There are other differences, too. In ’88 two females were sent from the Chonqing Zoo. Xi Xi and Qun Qun flew in on Canadian Airlines and went on display five days later and stayed for seven months. Their enclosure set the zoo back $380,000.

This time around, the zoo is hosting four pandas that arrived from Toronto via FedEx. The four represent one happy family, with Da Mao and Er Shun being the presumably proud parents of Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue. The twins were born in Toronto and their names translate as Canadian Hope and Canadian Joy, respectively.

This time, the zoo has spent $14-million on Panda Passage, which will house Da Mao and Er Shun for the second five years of their Canadian visit. (Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue will be sent to China in 2019.)

The 10-year loan of the pandas was negotiated between the governments of China and Canada and highlights some of the vicissitudes of political life. When Da Mao and Er Shun arrived aboard the FedEx Panda Express, they were welcomed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “It’s not every day in your life you get to sign for pandas,” he nearly quipped. In 2016, however, when Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue celebrated their first birthday, it was Justin Trudeau who got the cuddly photo op. (As if to prove their status as political footballs, the cubs next posed with Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne and then with Toronto mayor John Tory.)

But if the whims of the electorate are hard to discern, the zoo is hopeful that visitor interest in pandas is somewhat more predictable. The seven-month visit in 1988 contributed to record attendance of just over 1.3 million. That record stood until 2012, but the zoo expects the arrival of these four animals to boost attendance to 1.5 million.

The animals will also likely shift some souvenirs and zoo memberships when they go on public display May 7, but the real test of success will be much simpler: will the oohs and aahs of visitors come in such numbers that they leave the gorillas jealous? –Bruce Weir

Panda is Nose Hill Park. Mary Haasdyk /
Swerve

Mary Haasdyk

“Nose Hill being one of my favourite places to both walk and run, I got a kick out of imagining it as a giant sleeping panda. I picture him arriving in Calgary and making himself right at home here by taking a nap, something I think pandas are quite good at.”

Panda learning about Calgary at the new East Village library. Sam Hester /
Swerve

Sam Hester

“The pandas are newcomers to Calgary, and they’ll need to find out about their new home. What better place to learn about Calgary than the library? I also liked the idea that many people are eagerly awaiting the opening of the new library in November, just as they’ve been anticipating the arrival of the pandas.”

Panda meeting its neighbours. James MacKenzie /
Swerve

James MacKenzie

“I immediately thought of them dropping the pandas into random sanctuaries at the zoo to get them to fit in. I tried different animals with the pandas, but the penguins and the panda look like they belong together. I mean, they basically look like a gang.”

Pandas peeking in at the cat cafe. Melanie Luther /
Swerve

Melanie Luther

“I tried to think of the cutest hangout spots in Calgary, and thought immediately of our very first cat cafe, Regal Cat Cafe. It may not represent Calgary to everyone, but to me it’s one of the most relaxing and adorable spaces to spend time, and the thought of our new panda friends peeking in on all the cats (all up for adoption) was such a weird and fun idea. ”

Pandas going for a milkshake. Mariella Villalobos /
Swerve

Mariella Villalobos

“The idea came when I was talking with a couple of friends about the things you unexpectedly miss when you’re away from Calgary. Peters’ Drive-In stood out. You’re officially a Calgarian when you’ve stood in that line forever (drive-thru or not) on a hot summer day waiting to get a milkshake. In the end, though, it’s totally worth it.”

G. Gerald Garcia

“I spent one summer as an art vendor on Stephen Avenue; the figures of The Conversation were my closest neighbours. It is the piece of art I associate with the downtown core. An iconic Calgary feature combined with pandas was a natural fit for me.”

Pandas playing in Calgary. Dave Whamond /
Swerve

Dave Whamond

“I ate an entire bag of black and white cookies (a.k.a. Oreos) and then went to bed and had really crazy Panda dreams. I smoked a bamboo stick and started sketching and this is what happened. I rented a panda suit and wandered around Calgary just to see what kind of trouble a panda could get into. Actually, I did nothing special. I just thought of Calgary attractions or landmarks, and how the pandas would interact with them in a cartoony way.”

Pandas floating the Bow. Sofia Elidirissi /
Swerve

Sofia Elidrissi

“I wanted to create an illustration in which the pandas enjoy a fun iconic Calgarian activity, one that showcases the natural beauty and urban features of our city.”

Panda takes in the Calgary Stampede. Finn Matthews /
Swerve

Finn Matthews

Pandas are famously passive creatures, so I thought it would be a nice contrast to take one out of its comfort zone and into the rodeo for a sample of Calgary cowboy culture. Even a bucking bronco can’t break the panda’s Zen-like tranquility.”

Christian Frederiksen

“I was thinking of the panda family as tourists in Calgary and about the things they might do during their visit. Going to the zoo seemed like a pretty dull concept until I realized the funny paradox that would arise.”

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Festival Guide 2018

Things to do

Swerve Rewind

After graduating from university in 1987, I shouldered my backpack and went off to Europe. I didn’t realize it at the time of my departure, but these actions were a faint echo—and I mean the faintest echo—of an earlier moment in my family’s history.

The annual kiddie centric blowout is upon us. Venues in and around Arts Commons will resound with screams of laughter and gentle admonishments (don’t kick the seat in front of you, don’t be mean to your brother/sister/classmate).